Door-check



(No Modell.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

C. S. GOODING 81; V. BEAUREGARD.

l :DOOR CHECK.

No. 578,634. Patented Mar. 9, 1897.

Mgg' i ATD@ aims rsvzns w, Mnovumo., WASHINGTON. D. z:A

(Fo Model) 2 Sheets-heet 21 C. S. GOODINGZSz V. BEAUREGARD. DOOR CHECK.

No; 578,634. l y Patented Mar. 9,1897.

UNITED STATES RATENT OFFICE.`

CHARLES S. GOODING, OE BROOKLINE, AND VICTOR BEAUREGARD, OF

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

DOOR-CHECK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,634, dated March 9,1897.

i Application filed April 2, 1896. Serial No. 585,925. (No model.)

and useful Improvements in Door-Checks,-

of which the following is a specification.

The chief object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved liquid doorcheck of such construction that a plunger arrangedin operative connection with acylinder or vessel is adapted to enter andentirely leave a compression-chamber constructed in the cylinder orvessel in juxtaposition to and communicating with an overflow-chambertherein in such manner that when the plunger enters thecompression-chamber the liquid therein overflows therefrom into theoverfiowchamber through a restricted passage for the purpose of checkingor retarding the movement of the door, and when the plunger leaves thecompression-chamber the latter is in free or unobstructed communicationwith the overflow-chamber from which the liquid instantly iiows into thecompression-chamber.

The invention also has forits object to provide a liquid door check orretarder of such construction that the use of a valve, one or more, in apiston and specialpiston-rod packings are avoided, and the confinedliquid is effectually prevented from being forced to the exterior of theliquid-containing cylinder or holder as the door is moved to its closedposition, which occurs in prior door-checks wherein a cylinder is lledor nearly filled with liquid, and a piston works therein.

The invention also has for its object to provide a new and improvedliquid door check or retarder, which will check or retard the door, bothwhen it closes to avoid slamming and when itis opened a little more thanninety degrees to prevent the door strikingthe wall.

The invention also has for its object to provide new and improved meansfor operating the plunger, which cooperates with the liquidcontainingcylinder or vessel.

The invention consists, essentially, in a door check or retardercomposed of a cylinder or vessel provided internally with aliquidcompression chamber and a liquid-overdow chamber and a plungerwhich is adapted to enter into and leave the compression-chamber,whereby when the plunger enters the compression-chamber, theliquidtherein overiiows therefrom into the overflow-chamber through arestricted passage about the exterior of the plunger, and when saidplunger leaves the compression-chamber the latter is in free orunobstructed communication with the overflow-chamber, from which theliquid instantly flows into the compression-chamber.

The invention also consist-sin a door check or retarder composed of acylinder or vessel containing liquid and having internally acompression-chamber and au overiiow-chamber and a plunger which ismovable into and out ofthe compression-chamber and which, when entirelywithdrawn therefrom, establishes free communication between the twochambers and when moved into the compression-chamber provides arestricted passage through which the liquid is forced from thecompression-chamber to the overflowchamber. l

The invention also consists in the combination, with a cylinder orvessel containing liquid and a plunger working in the cylinder orvessel, of a lever for actuating the plunger and a roll which travelsback and forth in contact with and moves the lever first in onedirection and thenin the opposite direction by passing from one side tothe other of the lever-f ulcrum.

The invention also consists in the combination, with a cylinder orvessel containing a liquid and a plunger Working inthe cylinder orvessel, of a lever foractuating the plunger, a roll-track provided ontheplunger-actuating lever, a roll which travels back and forth on theroll-track, and suitable lneans for mov in g the roll over the track tomove the'plunger first in one direction and then in the oppositedirection.

The invention also consists in other features of construction and incertain combinations or arrangements of parts hereinafter described andclaimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure l is a top plan View of ourimproved door-check, showing a portionof a door-frame in section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation show- IOO ingportions of the door and door-frame in section. Fig. 3 is a detailcentral sectional view taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 1, showing thespring-containing cylinder or drum, the rocking lever, theliquid-containing cylinder, and the plunger. Fig. 4L is a longitudinalsectional view of a modiiied form of Kthe liquid-containing cylinder,showing its plunger withdrawn entirelyl from the compressionchamber.Fig. 5 is a vertical central sectional view showing another modificationof the door-check, and Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the same.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use ourinvention, we will now describe the same in detail, referring to thedrawings, wherein- The numeral 1 indicates a portion of a door, and 2 aportion of a door-frame, to which latter is rigidly attached a bracketor casting 3. A lengthwise-adjustable link 3, preferably made similar toa turnbuckle, is pivoted at one end, as at 4, between ears or lugs onthe bracket or casting 3, while the other end is pivoted, as at 5, tothe outer extremityofalever-arm 6. Theinnerextremity of the lever-arm isconstructed with a hub 7, adapted to be rigidly attached upon the upperend of a vertical spindle 8 through the medium of a set-screw 9 orsimilar contrivance. The spindle is arranged centrally in aspring-holding cylinder or drum-10, having top and bottom bearings 12,in which the spindle is adapted to turn. Thedrum or cylinder contains aconvolute or helical spring 13, attached at one extremity to the spindleand at the other extremity to the cylinder or drum in such manner thatwhen the spindle is rotated in one direction it will wind the spring andplace it under increased tension.

The spindle is constructed at its lower end with an angular head 14,adapted to receive a wrench or ot'hersuitable instrument, whereby thespindle may be rotated after unscrewing the set-screw 9 for the purposeof increasing or diminishing the tension of the spring to meet theconditions required.

The spindle is preferably retained in position against verticaldisplacement by a key 15, inserted through a transverse orifice in thespindle at a point directly under a suitable washer, as will be obvious.

The spring cylinder or drum 10, as here shown, is provided with apendent bracket 16, on which is mounted, in any suitable manner, aliquid-cylinder 17, constructed internally with two chambers 18a7 and19, which,

as shown in Fig. 3, are of different diameter,

the chamber 18, of least diameter, being thel compression-chamber anddesigned to normally hold and retain a body of liquid, such as mercury,while the chamber 19, of greatest diameter, constitutes anoverfiow-chamber, into which the liquid is caused to flow through therestricted passage created around theouter surface of the lower end of aplunger 2O when this plunger enters the compression-chamber. The plunger2O isofa diam eter approximately the sam-e as the diameter of thecompression-chamber 18, the construction being such that the plungerwill more or less accurately fit the chamber 18 and nearly fill the samewhen moved thereinto.

The plunger is so constructed and operates in such manner that it willentirely leave the compression-chamber, thereby establishing free andunobstructed communication between the two chambers, so that the liquidwill instantly flow into the compression-chainber from theoverow-chamber- Then the plunger enters the compression-chamber anddisplaces the liquid therefrom into the overiiow-chamber through thecontracted passage before referred to, there is no liability whatever ofthe liquid being forced to the exterior of the liquid-containingcylinder or vessel through the opening in the end of the cylinderthrough which the plunger extends, because the overflow-chamber receivesand accommodates the liquid. This result is not attained by prior liquiddoor-checks, wherein a cylinder is filled ornearly filled with liquidand a submerged piston works back and forth in the body of liquid, as insuch constructions the liquid will or is Very liable to be forced to theexterior .of lthe cylinder through the end thereof in which thepiston-rod works.

The compression-chamber 18 is shown as formed at the center of ascrew-plug screwed into the lower end of the liquid-cylinder 17, asuitable packing being interposed between the head of the screw-plug andthe lower end of the cylinder. XVe do not wish to be understood,however, as limiting ourselves to this particular construction, as thecompression and overflow chambers may be otherwise provided to performthe functions above stated without altering the character of ourinvention. Forexample, the compression-chamber may be provided in alateral or inclined tubular extension of the cylinder or Vessel, as at19a, in the modified construction, Fig. 4c. In this iigure the -plungeris shown in its raised position, so thatv it is entirely out of thecompression-chamber18, and the mercury or otherliquid has flowedbackinto said chamber from the overflow-chamber.

The upper end of the cylinder or vessel is shown as provided with a cap21, containing a packing; but this is not an essential feature of theliquid-cylinder, because the construction of the chambers is such that,although the plunger will enter and fit the compression-chamber 1S anddisplace all or nearly all the liquid therein, the displaced liquidoverflows into the overflow-chamber and there is no danger whatever ofthe liquid from the overflow-chamber being forced by the action of theplunger through the opening in the end of the cylinder through which theplunger extends.

The plunger is designed to be reciprocated or moved lengthwise in bothdirections as the door opens and closes through the medium of IOO IIO

a rocking lever or frame 22, of any suitableV construction' and mountedin any suitable manner, so that it will be rocked bya part of thedoor-closing mechanism, which mechanism comprises, as herein shown, thespringdrum 10, the spring 13, the spindle 8, the lever-arm 6, and thelink 3a. The part which serves to rock the rocking lever or frame is aroll or roller-stud 23, which is caused to travel in the arc ofV acircle on a roll-track formed by the upper surface of the rocking leveror frame. This rocking lever or frame is shown as pivoted at oppositesides to the spring cylinder or drum 10 through the medium of pendentears 24 and pivot-pins 25. The pendent ears'24 are shown as formedintegral with the rocking lever or frame, and the pivot-pins 25 areshown in the form of set-screws having conical inner ends to titcorrespondingly-shaped seats in the spring cylinder or drum.

The track of the rocking lever or frame is in t-he nature of acam-track, in that a portion of the upper surface of the lever or framelies approximately horizontal and a portion at an angle thereto when theparts are in their normal position, or rather when the door is closed.By this construction the cam portion 22:L of the rocking frame willnormally stand above the horizontal plane of the other portion of theframe when the parts are in normal position or when the door is closed.

The rocking lever may be in the form of a plate havinga central openingto receive the upper bearing 12 of the spring cylinder or drum, and thisrockinglever is provided with pendent ears 24, between which is pivoted,as at 24h, the upper end of a link 26. This link is pivoted at its lowerend, as at 27, to the upper end of the plunger 20, and obviously,therefore, this plunger will be reciprocated when the lever is rocked bythe action of the roller or roller-stud 23 in its traversing motion onthe roll-track formed by the upper surface of the lever or frame.

The roll or ro1ler-stud 23 is shownas mounted in a stud-carrying arm 28,which is connected in any suitable manner with the spindle 8, as, forexample, by forming the arm 28 with a collar 29, arranged on the spindle8 and secured thereto by a set-screw 30. Ve do not wish to beunderstood, however, as confining ourselves to this particular manner ofconnecting the stud-carrying arm with the spindle, as the same resultcan be accomplished by forming the stud-carrying arm with or attachingit to the hub 7 ofthe lever 6 or to the lever 6 itself, as will beobvious without further explanation, and therefore we do not deem itessential to illustrate this variation in the drawings.

. When the track surface of the rocking frame at the lefthandside of theline d ot, Fig. 1, lies horizontal, the portion 224 will lie above thehorizontal plane or at an angle of less than one hundred and eightydegrees t0 the track-surface at the left-hand side ofthe line a a; Thisconstruction makes the track in the nature of a cam, and therefore, withreference to the track-surface of the rocking frame, it may be termed,for the purposes of this description, a cam-track]y In the operation ofour invention, when applied to a door and door-frame, when the door isopened in the direction of the arrow b the link 33- will force thelever-arm 6 to swing in the direction of the arrow c, Fig. 1, therebyturning the spindle 8, winding the spring 13 and causing the roller-stud23 to travel onto the elevated part 22*L of the rocking frame 22. Asthis roller-stud passes across the line a a, the frame will be tiltedfrom the position shown in full lines, Figs. 2 and 3, to the positionshown by dotted lines, Fig. 3, thereby raising the plunger 20 andpermitting the iiuid in the overflow-cylinder to ilow into and ill thecompression-chamber 18. Vhen the door is released, the spring-closingmechanism will instantly swing it in the direction to close the same,and during the movement of the lever-arm 6 in a direction opposite tothe direction of the arrow c, Fig. l, the rollerstud 23 will roll backon the part 22 of the rocking frame, and about the time that the door isclosed the roller-stud will cross the line a a and thus depress the endof the frame which is connected with the plunger, so that the latter isdepressed and caused to enter the compression-chamber 18 of thefluid-cylinder. lnasmuch as the plunger ltits the chamber 18 more orless tightly, the liquid contained in this chamber will be displaced andcaused to iiow upwardly around the eX- ternal surface of the plunger andoverflow into the overliow-chamber 19. The descent of the plunger isresisted by the liquid contained in the chamber 18, and as this liquidis gradually displaced and caused to overflow into the overflow-chamberthe closing of the door is checked or retarded and slamming and noiseare effectually avoided.

The door-checking devices aredouble-acting in operation in that they notonly retard or check the door as it closes, but they also retard orcheck the door when it is opened about half-way, or, say, about ninetydegrees, as

obviously when this occurs the roller-stud 23 will cross the line a aand depress the plunger, thereby checking or retarding the door andpreventing it from striking the wall. This is very desirable in that thedoor when opened cannotstrike the wall with violence, which obviouslywould produce more or less noise.

A` desirable, important, and useful feature of our invention residesinthe fact that when the plunger leaves the compression-chamber there isprovided afree passage for the liquid from the overiiow chamber into thecompression-chamber, and this construction does away with the valvesheretofore employed to allow the liquid displaced by a piston to passtherethrough.

The lever or rocking frame for operating IOC y roll or wheel 45 will actupon the inner end the plunger enables the plunger to be operated by thepassage of the roll, or its equivalent, past the fulcrum of the rockingframe, and this is in itself a feature of our invention and may be usedwith a dash-pot of any suitable construction. Moreover, when the rockingframe is formed with an annular track for its operating-roll, as shown,the door may be checked, not only when it is about to close, but alsowhen it is openedv too wide.

As regards the construction of the liquidcontaining cylinder or vesseland its plunger adapted to enter and entirely leave thecompression-chamberwe do not confine ourselves to any particular devicesfor operating the plunger, although we desire to cover and protect thedevices for this purpose which are illustrated in the drawings.

In Figs. l to 4, inclusive, the plunger is designed to be reciprocatedwhile the liquidcontaining cylinder or vessel is immovable in relationto the plunger; but, as shown in the modification, Figs. 5 and 6, we maymake the cylinder or vessel movable and the plunger immovable withrelation to the cylinder or vessel. In this modification 0f ourinvention the numeral 3l indicates a door-frame, to which a casing 32 issecured in any suitable manner. The casing is stationary and containscentrally within it the plunger 33, which is preferably attached to theupper end of the casing through the medium of a screw 34, which passesloosely through the casing and screws into the upper end of the plunger,so that the plunger is pivotally connected to the casing, as will beobvious. The liquidcontaining cylinder or vessel 35 is providedinternally with the compression-chamber 36 and the overflow-chamber 37,and at its upper end the cylinder or vessel is provided with a cap 38,which accurately ts and slides upon the plunger. The lower end of thecylinder is pivotally connected, as at 39, with one end of a rockinglever 40, which is pivoted intermediate its extremities, as at 4l, on aprojecting part of the casing 32, so that the lever is provided with atailpiece, as at 42.

The door 43 is provided with a bracket 44, in which a roll or wheel 45is journaled in such manner that when the door closes the portion 40 ofthe rocking lever and move the cylinder or vessel 35 along the length ofthe plunger 33, thus causing the plunger to `enter thecompression-chamber 36, so that the liquid therein contained is causedto overflow into the overflow-chamber 37 through the contracted passageprovided between the external surface of the plunger and the internalsurface of the compression-chamber. This modified construction of ourinvention possesses the advantages of c'ompactness, simplicity, andeconomy.

The casing 32 is useful in that it effectually protects the workingparts from the effects of rain or snow if the device is arranged onexterior doors, such as screen-doors having springs which close themafter they have been opened.

In the modied construction, Figs. 5 and 6, the door is checked orretarded as the door closes and opens 'in substantially the same manneras hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive.

When the door is opened, the roll or wheel 45 acts upon the tail end 42of the rocking lever 40, and thereby moves the cylinder or vessel 35downward, so that the plunger 33 entirely leaves the compression-chamber36 and permits the liquid in the overflow-chamber to instantly flow intothe compressionchamber. Y

To limit the downstroke'of the cylinder or vessel 33, we provide therocking lever 40 with a stop-lug or shoulder 46, which strikes thecasing 32, when the tail end 42 of the lever is moved or thrown upwardby the roll or wheel 45.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that according to our inventioneither the plunger or the cylinder or vessel may be made the movablepart, for the purpose of causing the plunger to enter or entirely leavethe compression-chamber.

Our improved construction and mode of operation render it possible toentirelyv dispense with the valve or valves ordinarily employed in thepistons of door-checks, and also render it unnecessary to providespecial packing-boxes for the passage of the piston-rods to secureperfectly air and liquid tight joints.

As shown in Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, the bracket or casting 3 isattached to the door-frame, and the spring cylinder or drum 10 issecured to the door, and for this purpose the cylinder or drum isconstructed or pro- ICO vided with a base frame or plate, which may besecured to the door by bolts or screws.

Having thus described our inventiomwhat we claim isl. A door-check,consisting of a cylinder or vessel provided internally with aliquid-compression chamber and a separate liquid-overflow chamberarranged in juxtaposition to each other, and a plunger constructed toenter into and to entirely leave the said compression-chamber, so thatwhen the plunger enters the compression-chamber, the liquid thereinoverflows therefrom into the overflowchamber through a restrictedpassage about the exterior of the plunger and when the plunger leavesthe compression-chamber, the latter is in free or unobstructedcommunication with the overflow-chamber from which the liquid instantlyflows into the compression-chamber, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a cylinder or vessel containing liquid, and aplunger working in the cylinder or vessel, of a lever for reciprocatingthe plunger, and a roll which travels back and forth in contact withsaid lever from one side to the other of the lever-fulcrum forpositively reciprocating the plunger, substantially as described.

IIO

3. The combination With a cylinder or vessel containing liquid, and aplunger Working in the cylinder or vessel, of a lever for actuating theplunger, a roll-track provided on the plunger-actuating lever, a rolladapted to travel on the roll-track from one side to the other of thelever-fulerum, and means for moving the roll over the track to move theplunger `iirst in one direction and then in the opposite direction,substantially as described.

4. The combination of a plunger, a liquidcontaining cylinder or vesselconfining a body of liquid and constructed with a compressionchamber andan overflow-chamber which is in free communication with thecompressionchamber when the plunger is Withdrawn from the latter, alever for causing the plunger to enter and leave thecompressionchamber,and a roll for operating said lever vto move theplunger first in one direction and then in the opposite directionsubstantially as described.

5. The combination in a door-check, of a liquid-holding cylinder, and aplunger, with a lever for moving one of said parts on the other, and aroll which travels back and forth in contact with the lever and operatesto swing said lever first in one direction and then in the oppositedirection, substantially as and for the purposes described.

6. The combination with a suitable mechanisin for closing a door, of acylinder or vessel conning a body of liquid, a plunger Working in thecylinder or vessel, a rocking lever or frame pivotally connected withthe plunger, and a roll movable over the rocking lever or frame to rockthe same and thereby move the plunger first in one direction and then inthe opposite direction, substantially as described.

7. The combination with suitable mechanism for closing a door, of acylinder or vessel, a plunger Working in the cylinder or vessel, arocking lever or frame pivotally connected with the plungerand having acam-track, and a roll forming a part of and moved by the door-closingmechanism for rocking said lever or frame, substantially as described.

8. The combination with aspring door-closing mechanism, of a fluidcylinder or vessel confining a body of iiuid, a plunger Working in thecylinder or vessel, a rocking lever or frame connected with the plungerand having a cam-track, and an arm moved by the door-closing mechanismand provided With a roll Which travels on the cam-track of the rockinglever or frame for rocking the latter, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands in presence of tivosubscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES S. GOODIN G. VICTOR BEAUREGARD.

Vitnesses:

WM. I-I. VARNUNL, GEO. H. CUSHMAN.

